Many types of prayers are offered to God
OCTOBER 19, 2007 (FRIDAY) – Prayer is always a timely subject. It’s something that all of us do. We don’t all follow the same procedures in prayer nor do we all pray about the same things. We pray in different ways, but I am sure that we all pray.
An example of different types of prayer by the same person can be found in the Book of Nehemiah. Having received word of the desperate plight of his people in Jerusalem, and the sad state of the city itself, Nehemiah grieves over his brethren, fasts for days and prays much. He prays a marvelous prayer that occupies most of the verses in chapter one.
He is in exile in Persia but has risen to a high place as one of the king’s special servants. His unique position puts him into close proximity to the king but the rules for the servants forbid familiarity with royalty. He wants to ask the king for permission to return to his land and help them, but he does not speak up. He fears the king. He naturally feels depressed about Jerusalem’s sad state and his feelings show on his face. The king asks him what’s wrong. Then Nehemiah prays again (Nehemiah 2:4), but this time the prayer is offered so quickly that it is a silent, agonizing cry to God for Divine aid in composing his little speech to the king. The time allotted for this prayer is scarcely more than time for a breath, but it is crammed full of every thought that is filling Nehemiah’s mind about helping his people.
These two prayers, one lengthy, audible and elaborate, and the other short, silent and simple, illustrate two of the many types of prayers we offer to God in our lives.
The Book of Nehemiah tells how the king allowed Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem as governor and lead in the rebuilding of the city walls. God answered his prayers.
Many prayers are recorded in the Bible. They represent many styles of prayer. It should be obvious to us as we study these prayers that there are many ways to go about praying to God. It is good for us to study prayer and the principles involved, but we severely limit ourselves and those we teach if we build a structure for prayers and insist it can take no other form. Perhaps some of the greatest lessons in the Bible are in First Corinthians, where we are told very clearly that we are all different from each other and we should be very happy about that, celebrating it, while loving each other very deeply as brothers and sisters in Christ. Let’s join our Christian family in praying, listening and learning from each other as we speak to God in each other’s behalf.